Hello tournament players and fans. Won any lately? In case you missed it, I have created an index of all the back issues and their contents in this thread. Find out what you missed.As always, if you have any ideas or just want to help out, drop us a line.

Our next poll asks: "Would you like to see more 'Official' tournaments? Please stop by the poll thread and vote.

News Hound - Our News Hounds need someone to join the pack! Have a nose for news? Enjoy journalistic writing? Like to do stuff for free? Then PM Gozar about this opportunity.

jricart is on holiday and a complete signup list is unavaiable. If you would like to see your tournament included here, please PM Gozar or visit this thread.

GR's Map Tour II "Continental"Organiser: giantrascalIt needs: a total of 56 entrants + reservesNotes: It's starts with and 8 per game round then gradually goes down. All one must do to advance is not be in the bottom 2 for their game. It will take a tour of the various continent maps CC has to offer.It will start: July 18

2009 NCAA Track and Field ChampionshipsOrganiser: flexmaster33It's a team tournament to replicate the NCAA track and field championships. Basically, teams of four players going through a series of events that require different objectives. Mostly 1 vs. 1, but some team play as well. I'm looking for at least 12 teams, but am hoping for more

Here are how some of the currently ongoing tournaments are progressing. Just click the title to visit the thread. Want your tournament listed here? Use the form at the end of this letter, and PM it to Gozar or post it in this thread.

Battle for SupremacyOrganiser: barterer2002In December 2007 the Battle for Supremacy began with 264 players scattered over 64 maps. The game numbers began at 1406255. Now, 676 games and a year and a half later we're ready to crown our champion.

CONGRATULATIONS TO odratsab who has clinched the winning totals in the finals with three games still playing. odratsab has 6 finals victories while the closest competitors each have 2 and with just 3 games remaining we can go ahead and declare odratsab the SUPREME CC COMMANDER

This week we had the opportunity to once again interview barterer2002. All questions were submitted by readers of the newsletter. Next week, we check in once again with, keiths31.You can submit your questions in this thread.

Now, on with the interview!

Q: Hello,barterer2002.

A: Hello

Q:Why do you feel you need to be interviewed twice?

A: I don't feel the need, I volunteered to do it if Gozar needed help. I know that running a newsletter like this it is sometimes difficult to get people to help out as much as needed so I told him that if he needed me I'd be happy to do another. Plus its been well over a year since my first interview and things have changed a bit.

Q:Are you upset that people aren't going to ask you as many questions as they asked Jennifermarie, simply because you're not a girl?

A: Yes, its blantant sexism as I see it. I should have called myself something else (although I think that's the next question.

Q:Does it annoy you to know that if you had chosen "HotlilbartererMcMinx2002" as your username and subsequently pretended to be female, that your efforts on CC would receive a greater level of appreciation?

A: How did you find out my multi?

Q:How did you find this website?

A: I play on a baseball website and a group of us all were playing risk on another site when someone mentioned CC. I much prefer CC and so here I am.

Q:Whats your motivation (or why do you like) to play on CC?

A: I enjoy games of all sorts but don't always have the time in the real world to play in the time as needed. The 24 hour clock allows me to play several games on my own schedule

Q:Why did you start to play tournaments?

A: I like the competition and the ability to meet other players from around the world.

Q: How long have you been organizing tournaments?

A: I started my first tournament in October 07.

Q:What tournament did you first run?

A: My first tournament was N Am vs. Europe vs. The World. It was a 48 player round robin flat rate tournament.

Q: Who do you look to for inspiration when organizing your tournaments?

A: In terms of organizing I like to play in a variety of organizers tournaments so I can see what they do that I like and what they do that I don't like. I then try to incorporate the things I like and not do the things I don't.

Q:What software / websites do you use to assist in running tournaments? Have you developed any tools yourself?

A: I have never used any software that isn't just on CC. I don't have any special plug ins or anything, I do it all by hand. I really just don't have the technical expertise to develop any of it on my own and haven't really needed any (although having something that would auto make games or auto pm would be great!)

Q: Describe the experience of your first tournament ran, and first played in.

A:. I think the first one I played in was one of Optimus Prime's Point Grabber Series. I lost in the first round. Shortly thereafter I ran my own and learned a few things that hopefully I've carried forward.

Q:Tell us about your overall tournament experience from when you first joined a tournament to the present day. How has it changed for you? Is it a better experience than before? Worse?

A: Not having to send individual PMs to every player has been a huge boon. My first large tournament, the Battle for Supremacy, required 264 players and I sent over a thousand invitations out-each one individually. Then when it began each of the 264 players had to be individually notified of their games. For me, that's been the greatest thing to happen in TO land (although the auto join tags is pretty cool too)

Q: How many tournaments have you run already, and do you have a goal in mind for how many you want to run in total before you "retire"? How many are you running right now?

A:. According to the Hall of Fame stats, I've completed 66 so far although there are a few that will go in on the next update. I don't really have a goal before I retire, as long as I keep enjoying playing I'll keep running them.

Q:What tournaments have you organized?

A: There are 66 of them listed in the Hall of Fame thread, My favorites have been the two Supremacy series (Battle for Supremacy and Battle for Escalating Supremacy) although I also enjoyed the Escalating Tournament (I've plans to send out a second one later this summer).

Q:You're in AAFitz's world 1v1 tourney, he in yours.. Could the two of you combine a dual world tourney of some type...?

A: I'm sure we could, I'll have to drop him a PM later on to see what we can do.

Q:How do you keep the drive to keep making tournaments after completing so many?

A: I still enjoy them, I like the whole process, from the sign ups to the first round eliminations to the crowning of the champion. As long as I still enjoy it I'll keep doing it.

Q:Any plans to race for the top as top tournament maker?

A: Are we racing? I wasn't aware of that. I'm just making tournaments as I have time for. I try to keep a few Championship Series and a few other series running at the same time but try to keep it under 15 at a time so I don't get too swamped.

Q:What is your favourite tournament you have run?

A: I really enjoyed the Battle for Supremacy. It began with 264 players in December 2007 and ended Sunday July 5, 2009. I enjoyed ushering it through the various phases.

Q: What is your favorite tournament you’ve played in? Why?

A: I've really enjoyed mushin's Survivor series.

Q:Do you prefer to run or enter tournaments?

A: I generally prefer to run them

Q:Are you selective about which types of tournaments you join or do you join just about everything you can fit into your personal game load? If you are selective, do you look for certain styles or organizers?

A: I am working on keeping my game load down to a more reasonable manner so I try to only have one or two tournaments that I'm playing in that have a long term commitment (such as leagues etc). I'll then fill in with shorter based ones. I have a few series that I like to play in (like Gilligan's Madness series or Godd's Your Eliminated or keiths31's Musical Chairs

Q: Do you find it easier to choose tournament settings yourself, or to let the players customize them?

A: I've done it both ways, in general I prefer to do it myself but sometimes I like to run one where the players choose-realizing that it'll be longer due to things like no spoils games (but be sure to put in a round limit or you could play forever)

Q: How excited where you with your first CC win?

A:It was pretty cool. It was dubs and we were about to lose but I took my partner out and then cascaded through the opposition.

Q:Of your goals, in regards to CC, have you gotten done you've wanted to achieve? Do you have a goal as far as how many tournaments you would like to complete?

A: I haven't really set any goals, just having fun.

Q:If you had to win one tournament that you are currently a part of which would it be and why?

A: Well, I'd like to win Survivor having lasted this long but I suspect I'm about to be voted off the island (although we'll know before this comes out if I am)

Q: What is your most disappointing tournament loss to date?

A: I'm not sure. There have been several that I've made the finals and lost which is always quite frustrating.

Q:Have you ever been disappointed in a tournament you have run? What about one you entered?

A: In terms of the ones I've run, sometimes a rule change is required because I didn't think it through the first time I set things up. Those always frustrate me. In terms of the ones I've entered, I'm only disappointed in those organizers who don't follow through from sign up to finish. If you're going to start a tournament, finish it.

Q: Is there anything in particular that you dislike about tournament organizing?

A: Well not in particular-I'd like to be able to issue my own privs (without becoming a TD) so I don't have to wait but I understand why things are the way they are.

Q: What mistakes do you see tournament organizers make the most?

A: Underestimating the amount of time a tournament takes. I hate seeing perfectly good tournaments fail only because the organizer didn't want to do what they said they were going to. Its a time commitment that needs to be fulfilled.

Q: With experience comes the wisdom of knowing what mistakes you've made in the past so you can avoid them in the future. What mistakes have you made in your tournaments that you are sure to avoid in future tournaments?

A: Understanding what time frame you're looking at in various settings. If you make a tournament with flat rate you're probably looking at months for each round (for larger games not 1v1). Certain maps are going to take more time (Conquerman, City Mogul, North America, World 2.1). Other maps are going to keep some of your players away as they don't like them.

Q:What is your opinion on organizer neutrality? Should organizers be allowed to place themselves against their own clanmates in tournaments? Should organizers be allowed to join their own tournaments at all?

A: I always play in my tournaments. If I didn't I'd probably make less.

Q: Do you use a "schedule" for updating your tournaments, or do you just wait until they need an update?

A: I post updates in the threads of all my tournaments every Saturday (so my regular players can always check in and see where we are) and then through the week as necessary

Q:Should “question marks” be allowed to join tournaments?

A: I allow them (although be sure to have a reserve in place in case they don't follow through)

Q:Do you feel it is better to give a bye to players whose opponents deadbeats the tournament, or to use a reserve?

A: I'd rather use a reserve. I'm not a fan of unplanned byes. By the time we get to round 2 or beyond I'm not using reserves but rather second chances to the player that the deadbeater knocked out.

Q:What is the one overall improvement to Conquer Club that you would like to see, either tournament related or otherwise?A: I'd like lack to stop hiding and be a part of the community. Its a great website that he's built here and he should be proud and participating yet instead he always seems to be hiding.

Q: If there was something that the Conquer Club administrators could implement into the game to make tournaments easier to manage, what would it be? Similarly, is there anything you would like to see taken away from Conquer Club to make running tournaments easier?

A: I'd like the ability to slot players into games (so if I have game X that should have players A, B, C and D I, as the organizer can select players A, B, C and D from a list (like I do for PMs really is enough) and enter them in the game. Players then get a PM informing them that they've been placed in Game X and can either accept or deny. If they deny I as TO get a PM and can immediately put in my next replacement.

Q: Is there anything that you would recommend to encourage new tournament organizers?

A: I'm a believer that those in a community have a responsibility to give back to it. This does not mean that everyone should organize tournaments. For me, its a good way to give back because I really can't make a map but I can organize a variety of interesting tournaments.

Q: List your top 5 biggest tournament headache's to this point

A: deadbeats, TO error, players not understanding the rules in advance, Manually creating hundreds of games at a time, recruiting.

Q:Are there any maps you would like to see developed ?

A: Well I'm partial to the Philadelphia region so I'd like to see that one move forward a bit. Really though, I prefer the actual geography maps rather than fanciful things like Pac Man, D&D etc. I can make tournaments for anything but natural geography is my favorite.

Q:How much time does CC take from your day?

A: Well I probably spend one to two hours on Saturday morning updating the tournaments I have active and during the week I probably spend about an hour checking on currently running and taking my game turns.

Q:Do you have any other interests outside of Conquer Club or do you have the time ?

A: I have a few outside interests including (but not limited to) traveling, baseball, family, real estate and biking

Q:Are you a member of any clans or usergroups?

A: I am in the Tournament Organizer usergroup but am not currently in a clan (and am not looking to join one at the current time)

Q:What is 2002 to you?

A: 2002 was the year I because a Barter Exchange with my ex-wife (hence barterer as well). It's been my online username pretty much ever since.

Q:Where are you from?

A: I live in Chester Springs PA which is about half way between Philadelphia and Lancaster

Q:Do you have a job with computers?

A: No I don't. I am a real estate investor.

Q:So, how about those Giants?

A: It was nice to see Randy Johnson get his 300th win for them there wasn't it.

Q:See any good movies lately? Were they rated x in nature?

A: I love to go to the theater and watch movies on the big screen but haven't been since Star Trek (which I hated) and Wolverine came out. Have a few on my list that I'd like to go see and am looking forward to the Half Blood Prince next week.

Q:Favourite play colour?

A: Whichever one is going to win.

Q:Favourite and least favourite map?

A: I love World 2.1 and really am not that fond of Circus Maximus. (but I play every map)

Q:Favourite settings?

A: Depends on the game really, I play all of them, For no spoils I prefer 1v1 rather than 8 player but can do anything.

Q:Freestyle or sequential?

A: I prefer sequential but am happy to play in larger freestyle games (6-8 players).

Q: Any tournaments planned for the future? What are they?

A: There are a number in the works for this summer. I'm going to be out of town from the 9th through the 14th and again the weekend of the 18th so am waiting until after that to start some more but I tend to keep Gozar updated with upcoming ideas.

Q: Any parting shots?

A: Any TO that has not been interviewed, let Gozar know that you are available. I know he always needs the content and you really don't want to hear another from me.

If you want your tournament included in a future issue, please PM Gozar using this form or visit this thread!:

----------------FORM-------------------Status of tournamentTournament Name(with link please)Organiser: [Your name with 'player' tag]Brief Description(If recruiting) Approx. number of players needed(If Ongoing) Approx. number of games remaining/percentage complete---------------FORM---------------------

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